'Please save your vote, save your life': DK Shivakumar's appeal as Karnataka SIR begins

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday appealed to people across the state to actively participate in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which begins on Tuesday, urging citizens to complete the verification process to safeguard their voting rights.

Addressing a press conference, Shivakumar stressed the importance of the voter verification exercise and called on residents to cooperate with election officials by providing the required information, photographs and documents.

"From tomorrow, SIR will start, all India and Karnataka eye on Karnataka... I appeal to everyone, please save your vote, save your life, right to vote, right to live, the government of Karnataka will support your vote. The officer will give enumeration forms, they ask for information, everyone should give a new photo," Shivakumar said.

He added that representatives of various political parties would also assist people in providing the necessary information. He noted that Form 6 is available for those who have turned 18 and are eligible to register as new voters.

Shivakumar said help desks and booth-level arrangements had been put in place to facilitate the revision exercise and urged people not to delay submitting their forms.

He warned that voters who fail to complete the enumeration process within the prescribed period risk having their names removed from the electoral rolls.

The Special Intensive Revision will be conducted from **June 30 to July 29**.

Earlier, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B K Hariprasad said the party had launched a statewide awareness campaign to ensure eligible voters, particularly those in rural areas and from economically weaker sections, complete the SIR process.

Hariprasad said Congress had deployed observers across districts and taluks to spread awareness and assist voters in submitting their enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He also accused the BJP of attempting to disenfranchise poor voters through the revision exercise, an allegation rejected by the BJP.

(ANI)